David Van Rossum

Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. filed for federal bankruptcy protection Wednesday, saying it’s 70 million dollars in debt left the 11 year old electronic packaging supplier with no other option. In a one page letter distributed to employees on Wednesday, EI’s new Chief Restructuring officer David Van Rossum said the company had adequate cash on hand for daily operations on a go forward basis. The letter also stated that James Matthews Jr., who was named as the company’s interim CEO in April following the retirement of former chief executive James McNamara Jr., has stepped down as the head of the company.

US Senator Charles Schumer is calling for more stream and river guages for New York State. Schumer is urging passage of the Obama Administrations 2014 budget, which includes 36.2 million dollars for the gauge program, an increase of 7.3 million dollars. The budget also includes 63 million dollars for the USGS Cooperative Water Program, an increase of 400 thousand dollars. Schumer would like see up to 300 new stream guages installed nationwide, with New York State being given particular focus. Schumer said that if approved, the funding would go into effect October 1st. You can view the river guages for our local area online 24 hours a day at our website, at WCDO Radio dot com.

Vestal police charged 36 year old Dale Paulhamus of Newark Valley with 3rd degree larceny after an investigation in misappropriation of car parts and money while he was the parts manager of Matthews Auto Group in Vestal and Norwich. During 2011 and 2012, Paulhamus is accused of ordering parts and creating fictitious purchase orders that were charged to the Matthews Auto Group. Paulhamus either used the parts or sold them for cash according to police.

More than $1.1 billion in unclaimed life insurance benefits have been recovered nationwide after an investigation by New York regulators. The state’s Department of Financial Services said many insurance companies are not using lists of recent deaths from the Social Security Administration to determine whether a policy holder had died. New York regulators will direct insurers to go to NYPolicyFinder.com, to help residents locate lost life insurance policies and annuity contracts.
During a visit to Ithaca yesterday, Gov. Cuomo shed more light on his conversations with FEMA representatives about getting money for flood victims in the Mohawk Valley. Cuomo continued to say that he was not optimistic about getting aid for homeowners. Cuomo said many of the people he visited in the flooded regions did not have insurance that covered their losses. He would have to call a special session of the state legislature to get funding for flood victims.

State police officials said nearly 1,500 qualified applicants have already signed up to take the upcoming trooper exam. The application period ends September 8. Exam dates are October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2013. The online application can be found at the State Police Recruitment website at nytrooper.com

State regulators have scheduled a series of hearings on a proposal to reduce the volume of carbon dioxide emissions allowed in a nine-state region. New York is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which plans to cap emissions at 91 million tons each year starting in 2014, down about 45 percent from the current 165 million-ton cap. The proposal would also set a $2 per ton price on allowances power plants can trade. The DEC hearings will be in late August.

New poll results show former Gov. Eliot Spitzer leading in the race for New York City comptroller, but allegations of his involvement in a prostitution scandal continue to dog him. Two women’s rights group leaders held a news conference this week to denounce his decision to run again for public office. Spitzer resigned in 2008 after being identified as a client of a pricey escort service that was under federal investigaion. Spitzer was never charged with any crime. Spitzer topped fellow Democratic hopeful Scott Stringer by 42 to 33 percent among registered Democrats, according to a Wall Street Journal poll.

State troopers arrested 22 year old George Holbert of Guilford for 4th degree criminal mischief and 2nd degree Harassment following a dispute on State Route 8, in the Town of Guilford. Holbert was arraigned in town of Guilford court and sent to the Chenango County jail on $2,000.00 bail.

State troopers arrested 36 year old Rob Lane of Endicott for 2nd degree criminal impersonation following a traffic stop on I-81 in the town of Triangle. Lane used a false name and did not have a valid driver’s license. Lane was issued an appearance ticket for town of Triangle court July 15.